Improved packing for stuffing-boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVED PACKING FOR STUFFlNG-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 31,34fi, dated February5,1861.

T0 (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ross WINANS and THOMAS WINANS, of the city andcounty of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new anduseful Article of Manufacture for Packing Stuffing-Boxes which we term acompound packing-brick; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear,

. and exact description of our said invention.

In packing stuffing-boxes previous to our invention with hemp or otherfibrous material it has been customary to braid or twist the materialloosely to introduce it into the stuffing-box, and to compact it thereinby ramming before the follower or gland is applied. In some cases,packing made partly or wholly of india-rubber has been used for thepurpose, but such packing is comparatively costly, and is generallyinserted in the form of strips or segments of rings cut from flatsheets, or in the form of cylindrical rolls.

The object of our invention is to furnish a cheap and efficient packingwhich is not as costly as the india-rubber packing or as the hempgaskets, and which does not require to be condensed in the stuffing-boxby ramming previous to the insertion of the follower.

Our invention is applicable particularly to the new radical socketstuffing-box invented by us, for which we have made application forLetters Patent; and it consists of a compound packing-brick composed ofa fibrous material-such,for example, as unspunhempand of a lubricatingmaterial-such, for example, as tallow-compressed into the form mostsuitable for use in the stuffing-box.

The best mode with which we are acquainted of manufacturing our compoundpackingbrick is first to saturate loose unspun hemp with melted tallowby melting the tallow in a suitable vessel and working the hemp into themelted tallow with a stick. Then a sufficient quantity of this saturatedhemp to make a brick is taken and pressed by hand into a 'wad that willenter easily" into a mold of the proper size and form to make therequired packing-brick. The wad is placed in the mold and is subjectedto pressure, which can be conveniently done by fitting the mold with afollower, like the common molds used for pressing building-brick, and byoperating upon the follower by a lever or screw. The effect of thepressure is to squeeze out the surplus tallow and compress the mass intoa brick, which, by reason of the cementing action of the tallow, retainsits shape.

When our compound packing-bricks are intended to be used in our newstuffing-box, they should be made of such size and shape that they willfit the sockets. hen they are to be used for ordinary stuffingboxes,they may be made in the form of segments, of rings, or of cylinders ofasize to fit the annular spaces of the stuffing-boxes to which they areapplied.

Our invention is not confined to the employment of any particular kindof fibrous or cementing material, as there are many kinds of both wellknown which will answer the purpose, but we deem those we have specifiedthe best, having in view both cheapness and efficiency.

WVe claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Acompound pa'ckingbrick, substantially such as described, as a newarticle of manufacture.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

ROSS VVINANS. THOMAS VINANS.

lVitnesses:

G. BACKENBAUGH, W. S. WILKINSON.

